HOW TO SELL A HAUNTED HOUSE

Haunted houses–many cities have them, even in Pakistan. Karachi’s Mohatta Palace is rumored to be haunted by ghosts from the British Raj era. To outsiders, this usually just makes for some entertaining but spooky stories to share with family and friends on Halloween.

But what if you are charged with the seemingly impossible task of selling a property that many believe to be haunted? Short of lowering the asking price, is there anything else you can do to get the property sold?

As Halloween approaches this weekend, global property portal Lamudi.pk offers a list of tips for homeowners and real estate agents looking to sell the unsellable – a haunted house.

Know your legal obligations.

A haunted house falls in the category of a stigmatized property. This term refers to properties that garner a negative reputation due to the death of a resident, a past crime that occurred on site, or perhaps the belief the home is haunted. Depending on where you live, you may be legally obligated to disclose any issues with the property’s past to prospective buyers or tenants. We advise speaking to a lawyer to know your rights and obligations within your jurisdiction.

Confront the rumours.

Regardless of whether you are legally obliged to disclose the ghost that may be lurking in your attic, it still might not be a good idea to ignore your home’s haunted status. In the interests of full disclosure, you could hold an open house and confront any rumours head on – in a lighthearted way and on your own terms. After seeing the property for themselves, buyers are less likely to be concerned about any rumours they have heard. Alternatively, use the house’s interesting history as a selling point to market your property.

Before organising viewings of the property, double and triple check that you have addressed any issues that could misconstrued as paranormal activity. Fix creaking floorboards or doors, make sure no draft of air can be felt through the windows, and replace any flickering lights. If the property is old, renovating to give it a more modern look will help you avoid the haunted-house-on-the-hill vibe.

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